Save Money and Still Have a Big Tomato Harvest

Whether you have a large or small planting budget, the more you save on each project means the more projects you can do.

Use 5-gallon buckets that contain non toxic materials or old nursery pots available from recycling bins at most garden centers, when growing tomatoes in containers. Be sure to fill the container with a quality potting mix.

Start with the smaller less expensive tomato plants. They will suffer less transplant shock, recover quickly and catch up or even surpass the larger transplants.

Split a six pack or flat of tomatoes with friends. It is often cheaper to buy larger quantities and you will all save money when you share.

Use handles of broken garden tools or other found items to support your plants. And don’t forget to mulch the soil. Use evergreen needles or shred fallen leaves that most of us have on our property.

A bit more information: Be sure to drill drainage holes in the bottom of 5-gallon buckets or other items you recycle into planters. Or double pot plantings made in containers without drainage holes. Plant your tomato in a pot with drainage holes. Then place pebbles on the bottom of the pot that lacks the drainage holes. Set the planted pot on top of the pebbles inside the decorative container that lacks drainage holes. Be sure to pour off excess water that builds up in the bottom of the decorative pot as needed.